December 2, 2015 - EPA Withdraws Approval of Dow's Enlist Duo

Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - The US Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn its approval of Dow AgroSciences’ Enlist Duo, a controversial new weedkiller designed to be used on GM corn and soybeans. The product is a toxic blend of glyphosate and 2,4-D, both of which cause serious human health effects and threaten endangered wildlife.

The EPA announced the decision after receiving new information from the manufacturer that the weedkiller, Enlist Duo, is probably more toxic to other non-targeted plants than previously thought.

The EPA's move was welcomed by environmental and food safety groups that had sued to rescind approval of the potent new herbicide. But it is sure to create anxiety for the agriculture industry, since many weeds have become resistant to glyphosate, an herbicide commonly used on GM corn and soybeans.

Dow issued a statement calling for rapid resolution of the matter, citing "the pressing needs of US farmers for access to Enlist Duo to counter the rapidly increasing spread of resistant weeds."

COMMENT: It was a bad idea from the start. Enlist Duo was developed to combat glyphosate resistant super-weeds. Adding more flawed technology to overcome the effects of previous flawed technology only adds to the problem. The solution is a return to common-sense healthy agricultural practices.